A new study called NOURISH is testing whether combining fresh food delivery, cooking classes with diabetes education, and community support helps pregnant women with diabetes control their blood sugar better than standard care alone. According to research reviewed by Gram, the trial will enroll 174 pregnant women with diabetes and food insecurity to measure whether this three-part intervention achieves blood sugar control (hemoglobin A1c below 6.5%) and improves pregnancy outcomes compared to regular medical care.
Pregnant women with diabetes often struggle to afford healthy food, which makes it harder to control their blood sugar and can lead to complications. Gram Research analysis shows that a new program called NOURISH is testing whether combining three things can help: delivering fresh produce to homes, teaching cooking skills paired with diabetes education, and having community health workers help women access resources they need. Researchers will study 174 pregnant women with diabetes to see if this combined approach helps them manage their blood sugar better and have healthier pregnancies compared to standard care alone.
Key Statistics
A 2026 randomized controlled trial protocol published in BMJ Open will test the NOURISH intervention with 174 pregnant women with pregestational diabetes and food insecurity, combining produce delivery, culinary medicine with diabetes education, and community health worker support.
The NOURISH study targets pregnant women with hemoglobin A1c levels of 6.5% or higher and self-reported food insecurity, measuring whether the three-part intervention achieves blood sugar control below 6.5% by delivery compared to standard prenatal and diabetes care.
According to the NOURISH protocol, the intervention combines three components: home delivery of fresh produce, culinary medicine paired with diabetes self-management education and support, and community health worker-led assessment of unmet social needs for pregnant women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a program that combines fresh food delivery, cooking classes with diabetes education, and community support helps pregnant women with diabetes control their blood sugar better and have healthier babies.
- Who participated: 174 pregnant women (87 in the new program, 87 in standard care) who have diabetes before pregnancy, struggle to manage their blood sugar, and have trouble affording food. All participants are less than 23 weeks pregnant and receiving care at an academic hospital in the USA.
- Key finding: This is a study protocol describing a trial that will test whether the NOURISH intervention improves blood sugar control (measured by hemoglobin A1c below 6.5%) in pregnant women with diabetes compared to regular care.
- What it means for you: If this study shows positive results, pregnant women with diabetes who struggle to afford healthy food may have access to a new program that combines practical food support with education and community help. Results won’t be available until the trial completes, likely in 2027 or later.
The Research Details
This is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of research. Researchers will randomly assign 174 pregnant women with diabetes into two groups: one group receives the NOURISH intervention, and the other group receives standard diabetes and prenatal care. The NOURISH intervention has three main parts: fresh produce delivered to homes, cooking classes combined with diabetes education, and support from community health workers who help women access resources like food assistance programs and other services they need.
The study will follow women from early pregnancy (before 23 weeks) through delivery and measure their blood sugar control, weight gain during pregnancy, baby health outcomes, and whether women feel more secure about having enough food. Researchers will also look at whether the program is cost-effective and what factors help or hurt the program’s success.
This research approach is important because it tests a real-world solution to a real problem. Many pregnant women with diabetes can’t afford healthy food, which makes their blood sugar harder to control and puts both mother and baby at risk. By combining food access, education, and community support all together, researchers can see if addressing the whole problem works better than just medical treatment alone. The study also looks at costs, which helps hospitals and insurance companies decide if the program is worth offering.
This study has several strengths: it’s a randomized controlled trial (the gold standard for testing treatments), it has a reasonable sample size of 174 women, it measures multiple important outcomes (blood sugar, pregnancy complications, food security), and it includes cost analysis. The study was approved by an ethics review board at Ohio State University. However, because this is a protocol paper (a plan for the study, not results yet), we don’t know the actual outcomes. The study only includes women at one hospital in the USA, so results may not apply everywhere. The study is currently enrolling participants, with results expected in 2027 or later.
What the Results Show
This paper describes the study plan rather than actual results, since the trial is still ongoing. The primary goal is to see whether women in the NOURISH program achieve better blood sugar control by delivery, measured by a hemoglobin A1c level below 6.5%. This is important because pregnant women with diabetes need tight blood sugar control to prevent serious complications for themselves and their babies. The study will compare how many women in the NOURISH group reach this goal versus how many in the standard care group reach it.
Beyond blood sugar control, researchers will measure whether the NOURISH program affects how much weight pregnant women gain (which should be within healthy ranges), whether babies have fewer health problems at birth, and whether women feel more secure about having enough food to eat. The study will also calculate whether the program saves money overall by preventing complications, even though it costs money to deliver produce and provide classes.
Previous research shows that food insecurity (not having enough money for food) makes it harder for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. Studies also show that cooking education and community support programs can help people manage chronic diseases better. However, no previous study has tested all three components together specifically for pregnant women with diabetes. This NOURISH trial will fill that gap and show whether combining these approaches works better than standard care alone.
This study has several limitations to keep in mind. It only includes women at one hospital in Ohio, so results may not apply to women in other parts of the country or world with different resources and communities. The study only includes women who are already in a diabetes and prenatal care program, so it may not reach women who don’t have access to healthcare. Women who volunteer for the study may be different from women who don’t volunteer. The study measures outcomes at delivery, so we won’t know about long-term effects on mother and baby health after birth. Results won’t be available for at least a year or more after enrollment ends.
The Bottom Line
This is a research protocol, not a completed study, so there are no recommendations to implement yet. However, pregnant women with diabetes who struggle to afford healthy food should talk to their healthcare providers about food assistance programs, diabetes education classes, and community resources available in their area. If you’re pregnant with diabetes and food insecurity, ask your doctor about participating in research studies like NOURISH or similar programs that combine food support with education.
This research matters most for pregnant women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who struggle to afford healthy food. It also matters for healthcare providers, hospitals, and insurance companies deciding how to support pregnant women with diabetes. Public health officials and community organizations working on food security should pay attention to these results. Women with diabetes who are not pregnant may also benefit from similar programs, though this study specifically focuses on pregnancy.
The NOURISH study is currently enrolling participants as of August 2026. Results from the trial will likely be published in 2027 or 2028, after all participants have delivered their babies and data has been analyzed. If the program shows positive results, it could take another 1 to 3 years for hospitals and healthcare systems to adopt and implement similar programs. So pregnant women today would not benefit from this specific study, but results could lead to new programs available within the next 2 to 4 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does food insecurity affect blood sugar control in pregnant women with diabetes?
Food insecurity makes it harder to manage blood sugar because women can’t consistently access healthy foods needed for stable glucose levels. The NOURISH study tests whether providing fresh produce, cooking education, and community support improves blood sugar control in pregnant women with diabetes who struggle to afford food.
What is the NOURISH program and how does it help pregnant women with diabetes?
NOURISH combines three supports: fresh produce delivered to homes, cooking classes paired with diabetes education, and community health workers who help women access food assistance and other resources. The program aims to improve blood sugar control and pregnancy outcomes for women with diabetes who face food insecurity.
When will results from the NOURISH study be available?
The NOURISH trial is currently enrolling participants as of August 2026. Results will likely be published in 2027 or 2028 after all women have delivered and data has been analyzed. The study follows women through delivery to measure blood sugar control and baby health outcomes.
Can I join the NOURISH study if I’m pregnant with diabetes and can’t afford food?
The NOURISH study is recruiting pregnant women with pregestational diabetes, inadequate blood sugar control, and food insecurity at Ohio State University’s healthcare system. Contact your prenatal care provider or the study team at NCT07560813 to learn if you’re eligible and how to participate.
What makes this study different from regular diabetes care during pregnancy?
Standard care focuses on medical management of blood sugar. The NOURISH program adds food delivery, cooking education, and community support to address food insecurity as a root cause of poor blood sugar control. The study tests whether this combined approach works better than medical care alone.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily blood sugar readings (if you have a glucose monitor) and note which days you had access to fresh produce and prepared healthy meals. Also track your food security by rating 1 to 10 how confident you feel about having enough food each day.
- Use the app to log recipes from cooking classes you attend, set reminders to prepare meals with fresh produce, and track which community resources (food banks, assistance programs, support groups) you’ve accessed. Share this information with your healthcare team at appointments.
- Over 3 to 6 months, monitor whether your blood sugar readings improve as you gain access to more fresh food and nutrition education. Track your weight gain to ensure it stays in the healthy range for pregnancy. Note any changes in how secure you feel about having enough food. Share trends with your doctor to adjust your diabetes management plan as needed.
This article describes a research study protocol, not completed results. The NOURISH trial is still enrolling participants and results are not yet available. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider. If you are pregnant with diabetes or struggling to afford food, talk to your doctor about available resources and support programs in your area. Do not change your diabetes management or nutrition plan without consulting your healthcare team. Pregnant women should always work with their prenatal care provider to manage diabetes safely during pregnancy.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.